Friday, January 20, 2012

The Big Seed Giveaway

One of my new resolutions for this year is to get stricter with the number of seeds I sow. No - really. I will.

(At this point, probably best not to mention the fat envelope full of little packets of RHS seeds I found while clearing out which are just so mouthwateringly gorgeous I can't bear to let them go).

The thing is that every March I pull out the old floppy disc* box I use for keeping my seed packets in, and rifle through the section labelled - rather conventionally - 'March'.

This is where I stuff all the packets of seed I acquire during the year, just as somewhere to put them, really. Result: far too many seeds. And I mean far too many: this year I counted around 60 packets I know for sure I will not have time, space or if I'm honest inclination to grow.

No point in keeping all these spare seed packets: but what to do? They're all within date - some with 'sow-by' dates this year but most longer than that - and it seems such a waste just to chuck them out. Nearly all are pristine and unopened: some have lost their outer packets and therefore instructions, but I still know (because I've written it on the inner foil packets) the variety and sow-by date.

My usual fallback is to offload them at a seed swap, but I'm not planning to go to one this year: last year's was great but it was a bit of a hike, being in Wiltshire, and I haven't found one near enough to go to around here (yet). And besides, I've already got quite enough seed to sow to be getting on with for this year and - see resolution above - I really, honestly, truthfully don't need any more.

So I thought I'd just... well... give them away, in my own sort of seed swap without the swap bit.

Therefore, I hereby announce, in its inaugural year of what I suspect may become an annual event...

The CG Big Seed Giveaway for 2012

(rules (not many, I hope) follow the list)

Flowers:
(I'm having to be a bit coy about the exact varieties in some cases, so where I've only listed the name + colour, email me if you want the full details (see below))

Opened packets (still with plenty of seed in):
Cabbage 'Ruby Ball' - taken
Beetroot 'Chioggia' - taken
Bronze fennel - taken
Artichoke 'Purple Globe' - taken
Runner beans (no variety given as this was a seed swap acquisition) - taken

How to claim your free seeds:
- comment below giving the names of the seeds you want (if you have any questions about how this works, do just ask. Ditto re more information on any of the named varieties above - most of those named can be found on the interweb if you google)
- then send an email to sally dot nex at btinternet dot com confirming your request
- I'll send you an email back giving you my address
- send an SAE to me and I'll put the seeds in the envelope and post it back to you
- I'll update this post regularly giving details of what's gone and what's left
- the giveaway will last for a week, until 27 January: since this post will go wandering off down the blog, follow me on Twitter (@sallynex) for updates
- if you enjoy growing your seeds, please blog about them later in the year if you can!

Rules:
- no more than 10 packets of seed and no more than one packet of the same variety per person.
- after the week is up, I'll divvy up the remainder between those who have said they want more than 10 packets, so do indicate if you'd like to be part of this.
- first to place their order in the comments below gets the seed
- sorry but the offer is only open to UK respondents, otherwise I'll get clobbered by customs and those nice people who try to stop nasty diseases crossing borders on the backs of foreign seeds

*remember floppy discs? Mine were 3 1/2" and made a whirring noise when you put them in the computer: they seemed the ultimate in hi-techery at the time. The only thing I couldn't quite work out was why they were called floppy when they were so... well... un-floppy. All in all it was quite a relief when CDs and memory sticks came along and relieved me of having to think about it any more.

(**whispers**) I actually have two floppy disc boxes and a shoebox. Plus assorted fat and overstuffed envelopes in unlikely bits of the house.

I am looking forward to seeing what you're growing from the RHS. I have Musa velutina, Inula helenium and Heuchera micrantha plus 17 others equally mouthwatering. I shouldn't, I really shouldn't, but I just can't stop myself...

Hi Sally.. I'd love to have some veg seeds if you have any left, particularly the squash, both toms and both chillis. We get through a lot of those in our house. Also, coleslaw cabbage would be useful if there are any remaining. Thank you.

OK Papaver - both varieties of chilli are yours :D If you could drop me a line by email I'll let you know where to send your SAE.

And Roz - both tomatoes are yours, and I'll send you the runner beans too if you want them? Plus a packet each of the heirloom varieties - though if you want more than one packet let me know as there are plenty! Drop me a line by email and I'll reply with my address for your SAE too. Thanks!